49ers' Smith improving, but numbers not great

49ERS Coach says Smith is progressing

Published 4:00 am, Saturday, November 28, 2009

San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Alex Smith is hit after completing a pass late into the 4th quarter. San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park Thursday November 12, 2009 10-6

San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Alex Smith is hit after completing a pass late into the 4th quarter. San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears at Candlestick Park Thursday November 12, 2009 10-6

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Image 2 of 2

49ers Frank Gore hauls in a Alex Smith pass for a first down in 2nd quarter action at Candlestick Park Thursday November 12, 2009. San Francisco 49ers leads the Chicago Bears 7-3 at the half.

49ers Frank Gore hauls in a Alex Smith pass for a first down in 2nd quarter action at Candlestick Park Thursday November 12, 2009. San Francisco 49ers leads the Chicago Bears 7-3 at the half.

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

49ers' Smith improving, but numbers not great

1 / 2

Back to Gallery

Since taking over as the 49ers' quarterback in the second half of the Houston game Oct. 25, Alex Smith has been on the clock. Each tick could bring him closer to re-establishing himself as the unquestioned leader of the team or demonstrate once and for all that he is not the man for the job.

His coaches say he's making progress in all areas, that he's more mature and assertive, which runs counter to his nonconfrontational personality.

Yet, there are the numbers, and they are not pretty. Smith is 12-22 as a starter and has thrown 38 interceptions against 28 touchdown passes. He's 1-3 this season, and he had very little to do with that one win, the 10-6 defense-dominated victory over Chicago.

"Whenever you look at a quarterback, it's all about winning," coach Mike Singletary said as the 49ers finished preparations for Sunday's game against Jacksonville at Candlestick Park. "Did you win the game? No, well, end of conversation."

Not exactly. Singletary and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye were expansive in their conversations about their starting quarterback leading up to the game.

"The quarterback play has been very good, and at times has even tilted toward being outstanding," said Raye, adding that since Smith became the starter, "His maturation ... has been very good. He's become a little more assertive. I am hopeful his growth and maturation will be something that will be very good."

Raye and Singletary might not be on the same page regarding Smith. On Monday, the head coach said his quarterback had "meek" characteristics, while on Thursday the offensive coordinator called him "assertive."

"I should have used the word 'humble,' " Singletary said. "He doesn't want to cause any problems. To me, he doesn't have the typical mentality of a quarterback, which is, 'Hey, this is what I want.' "

He's getting there, though. Raye said as part of Smith's week of preparation, he will "red-line" or cross out suggested plays on the list he receives at the start of the week. That's being downright assertive.

"The quarterbacks get a wish list at the beginning of every week," the coordinator said. "They get to list in priority the things they like and the things they don't like. They can suggest things they'd rather have."

Smith said, "It's hard when you're not playing - you can't do things like that. The more I've been in this offense, the more comfortable Jimmy Raye and I are with each other. You have a different relationship with the coordinator when you're starting."

In the 4 1/2 games he's been on the field, Smith has a positive touchdown-to-interception differential for the first time in any single season. He has nine touchdown passes against seven picks. As a rookie in 2005 it was 1-11, and in '06 it was 16-16. He had 2-4 in a truncated '07 season.

"His mannerisms and assertiveness ... (have) been a win-win. Alex is a very bright individual," Raye said. "As he gains confidence, the more his intelligence plays to his physical ability. I hope that is what we're witnessing."

Raye said "it varies" as to how many plays Smith will "red-line" in a given week.

"It's nothing like John Brodie, where he was going to run what he wanted to run and the hell with the plan," the coordinator said of the 49ers' quarterback from 1957-73. "He called his own plays back then."

Smith will probably never have that luxury, or that old-school responsibility, but the fact he "red-lines" plays at all indicates a more forceful personality could be emerging.

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.